The observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern Alaskan cloud properties
Due to their importance for the radiation budget, liquid-containing clouds are a key component of the Arctic climate system. Depending on season, they can cool or warm the near-surface air. The radiative properties of these clouds depend strongly on cloud drop sizes, which are governed in part by th...
Published in: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017 https://doaj.org/article/aaf9a9f2d38e4611a967d7b08898a3e3 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:aaf9a9f2d38e4611a967d7b08898a3e3 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:aaf9a9f2d38e4611a967d7b08898a3e3 2023-05-15T14:58:38+02:00 The observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern Alaskan cloud properties M. Maahn G. de Boer J. M. Creamean G. Feingold G. M. McFarquhar W. Wu F. Mei 2017-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017 https://doaj.org/article/aaf9a9f2d38e4611a967d7b08898a3e3 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/14709/2017/acp-17-14709-2017.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1680-7316 https://doaj.org/toc/1680-7324 doi:10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017 1680-7316 1680-7324 https://doaj.org/article/aaf9a9f2d38e4611a967d7b08898a3e3 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol 17, Pp 14709-14726 (2017) Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 article 2017 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017 2022-12-31T04:55:57Z Due to their importance for the radiation budget, liquid-containing clouds are a key component of the Arctic climate system. Depending on season, they can cool or warm the near-surface air. The radiative properties of these clouds depend strongly on cloud drop sizes, which are governed in part by the availability of cloud condensation nuclei. Here, we investigate how cloud drop sizes are modified in the presence of local emissions from industrial facilities at the North Slope of Alaska. For this, we use aircraft in situ observations of clouds and aerosols from the 5th Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (DOE ARM) Program's Airborne Carbon Measurements (ACME-V) campaign obtained in summer 2015. Comparison of observations from an area with petroleum extraction facilities (Oliktok Point) with data from a reference area relatively free of anthropogenic sources (Utqiaġvik/Barrow) represents an opportunity to quantify the impact of local industrial emissions on cloud properties. In the presence of local industrial emissions, the mean effective radii of cloud droplets are reduced from 12.2 to 9.4 µm, which leads to suppressed drizzle production and precipitation. At the same time, concentrations of refractory black carbon and condensation nuclei are enhanced below the clouds. These results demonstrate that the effects of anthropogenic pollution on local climate need to be considered when planning Arctic industrial infrastructure in a warming environment. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Barrow black carbon north slope Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 17 23 14709 14726 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 |
spellingShingle |
Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 M. Maahn G. de Boer J. M. Creamean G. Feingold G. M. McFarquhar W. Wu F. Mei The observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern Alaskan cloud properties |
topic_facet |
Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 |
description |
Due to their importance for the radiation budget, liquid-containing clouds are a key component of the Arctic climate system. Depending on season, they can cool or warm the near-surface air. The radiative properties of these clouds depend strongly on cloud drop sizes, which are governed in part by the availability of cloud condensation nuclei. Here, we investigate how cloud drop sizes are modified in the presence of local emissions from industrial facilities at the North Slope of Alaska. For this, we use aircraft in situ observations of clouds and aerosols from the 5th Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (DOE ARM) Program's Airborne Carbon Measurements (ACME-V) campaign obtained in summer 2015. Comparison of observations from an area with petroleum extraction facilities (Oliktok Point) with data from a reference area relatively free of anthropogenic sources (Utqiaġvik/Barrow) represents an opportunity to quantify the impact of local industrial emissions on cloud properties. In the presence of local industrial emissions, the mean effective radii of cloud droplets are reduced from 12.2 to 9.4 µm, which leads to suppressed drizzle production and precipitation. At the same time, concentrations of refractory black carbon and condensation nuclei are enhanced below the clouds. These results demonstrate that the effects of anthropogenic pollution on local climate need to be considered when planning Arctic industrial infrastructure in a warming environment. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
M. Maahn G. de Boer J. M. Creamean G. Feingold G. M. McFarquhar W. Wu F. Mei |
author_facet |
M. Maahn G. de Boer J. M. Creamean G. Feingold G. M. McFarquhar W. Wu F. Mei |
author_sort |
M. Maahn |
title |
The observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern Alaskan cloud properties |
title_short |
The observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern Alaskan cloud properties |
title_full |
The observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern Alaskan cloud properties |
title_fullStr |
The observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern Alaskan cloud properties |
title_full_unstemmed |
The observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern Alaskan cloud properties |
title_sort |
observed influence of local anthropogenic pollution on northern alaskan cloud properties |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017 https://doaj.org/article/aaf9a9f2d38e4611a967d7b08898a3e3 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Barrow black carbon north slope Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic Barrow black carbon north slope Alaska |
op_source |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol 17, Pp 14709-14726 (2017) |
op_relation |
https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/14709/2017/acp-17-14709-2017.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1680-7316 https://doaj.org/toc/1680-7324 doi:10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017 1680-7316 1680-7324 https://doaj.org/article/aaf9a9f2d38e4611a967d7b08898a3e3 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017 |
container_title |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
23 |
container_start_page |
14709 |
op_container_end_page |
14726 |
_version_ |
1766330755906011136 |